I took a short intermission from weaving and spinning to try my hand at surface design.  These cute little bird mats were made through the use of transfer dying.  Transfer dyeing only works on polyester fabric.  The image is coloured, using fabric crayons, or painted, using transfer paints, on paper, and then transferred to the fabric through heat and pressure, using an iron.  Each image can be transferred four or five times. I then embellished the pictures with hand embroidery and added batting, backing and trim.

I like the translucent quality of the print, with the background fabric showing through the image.

The table runner was made by painting silk leaves with transfer paints, and then the leaf prints were transferred through ironing onto the fabric.  This was finished with machine quilting outline work.

So, a lovely  little intermission, trying something new.  It was loads of fun.